Strawberry & Basil Ice Tea

What is summer without a fresh jug of homemade ice tea beckoning from the fridge? The sweltering heat calls for a refreshing and delicious tumbler of icy goodness in hand, by the poolside or even as a rehydrating pick-me-up after a workout. The best part is that you get to add all of your favourite ingredients without all the preservatives you find in store bought drinks.

Bonus: Use the ice tea as a cocktail mixer to add a personal touch to social gatherings.

Ingredients:

3 cups water

2 tsps. tea leaves

8 Strawberries, cut into halves (stem removed)

¾ cup brown sugar

A handful of fresh basil leaves, loosely chopped. Keep a few whole leaves for serving

2 lemons

Ice

Infusing your tea

Put the kettle on!

Warm your glass teapot & infuser by swirling around a bit of with hot water. Pour the water out before adding your tea.

Add 1-heaped teaspoon for every cup of your favourite loose leaf tea or simply place a teabag into the infuser. This can be anything from a plain black tea, to a nice fruity one that works with the strawberry and basil flavours. We have used Five Roses Strawberry tea.

Once the kettle has finished boiling, allow the water to cool for a few minutes before pouring water over your tealeaves into the infuser teapot. Fill to about halfway.

Allow the tea to steep.

Adding the flavour

Place 1 cup of water and the brown sugar into a small saucepan. Bring to the boil, stirring occasionally until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat.

Add basil leaves to the water and sugar mixture and set aside to infuse for about 10 minutes.

Strain the basil mixture over the strawberries into a measuring jug. Discard the leaves, toss the strawberries to coat and leave to cool.

Once cool, squeeze the juice of 1 lemon into the mixture and stir.

Pour the strawberry syrup, with a couple of the halved strawberries into the infuser and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Keep a few halves aside for serving.

To serve

Pour the cooled tea into two tumblers. Add the remaining coated strawberries, a few blocks of ice and a slice of lemon to each glass. Garnish with fresh strawberries and a basil leaf. Enjoy!